Ok, first of all, Hello! My name is Jen & I used to be on the blogging boards a while back, but I have fallen so far off the wagon! I mean, like fell off, rolled down a steep mountain into a ravine off the wagon.

I guess my first question is about tea. Is red tea acceptable instead of green tea? I really LOVE this red/white fusion tea.

Secondly, I was wondering what have you all done to get started the right way? I feel so all over the place sometimes when it comes to meal planning. Any suggestions for someone who is terrible in the kitchen? It sounds really pathetic, but it's true. However, my husband is a genius, he just needs me to steer him in the right direction. What is a typical meal plan for you?

I think that's it for now. I really appreciate any help for an old newbie I hope everyone is well!

Ok, first of all, Hello! My name is Jen & I used to be on the blogging boards a while back, but I have fallen so far off the wagon! I mean, like fell off, rolled down a steep mountain into a ravine off the wagon.

Hey!!! I think PT has assumed a new identity!!

jenmark97, welcome back!!!! don't have many answers for you myself, as I took a tumble a while back myself and am still climbing back up. I'm sorta all over the place when it comes to meal planning as well. Have been in the midst of a remodel for the past 4-5 mths and it's really taken it's toll on my diet. DH has just come on board BTD, so, sad to say (and I'll prob get scolded for this - already girls ), I have spent the last 2 wks heavily concentrating on his meals. Focusing now on getting back to mine as well. Maybe we'll climb back up together.

Jen-welcome back to the BTD and the forum. Can't say I know much about the red/white fusion tea so I can't help you there. Sorry.

Advice for getting back on track would be to stay away from the avoids and keep as many beneficials on your plate as possible and add a few neutrals every so often. If you don't buy any avoids...you can't eat them. (And, of course, that is easier said than done) Make sure you get enough veggies, protein, fruits and liquids. Oh yeah...and that dreaded word...exercise. It really helps to keep the appetite down.

Debra

"Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves." C.G. Jung"

The best suggestion I can make for an O/B cook is to get the Cook Right ... book. There are meal planning ideas and recipes that are wonderful.

Another suggestion is to go to the RecipeBase on this site and search for recipes for the blood type combination. You still need to compare recipe ingredients to the Typebase to make sure the values are still the same.

I recommend you try to always have some cooked meat in the refrigerator. Lamb or beef roasts and patties of lamb, bison, or beef are good to cook up when you have the time and that way you will have them ready to eat when you don't have the time. I typically use these precooked meats for breakfast along with some precooked greens such as collards, kale, or whatever kind of greens I have on hand. I also use these precooked meats for any other meal when needed, maybe because of a last minute change in plans.

I always try to keep salad stuff in the refrigerator and pantry. Whatever you like in your salad such as romaine lettuce, spinach, dandelion greens, red peppers, celery, kohlrabi, red onions, canned artichoke hearts, organic lemon juice and olive oil for the dressing, nutritional yeast, etc. I usually put canned salmon on my salads so I keep plenty of that in the pantry too, but occasionally will use tuna, sardines, some baked fish such as cod, or hard boiled eggs for the protein source.

My third meal of the day is usually more varied and requires a little more planning. I usually have to think a couple of days ahead about what I am going to fix. I try to keep the staples I need for these meals that can be stocked in the pantry, freezer, or refrigerator, then I usually only need to remember to thaw the meat or fish that I need in time, start soaking the rice the night before, or buy the one or two fresh items I need that I don't use enough of to stock.

If you have the beneficial foods on hand and do the little bit of planning that is required I don't think you will be as tempted by the avoids. Therefore stock your pantry, freezer, and refrigerator with the food you need and don't let your supplies run out.

I guess my first question is about tea. Is red tea acceptable instead of green tea? I really LOVE this red/white fusion tea. Jen

Hi Jen,Welcome back!Are you asking about Rooibos tea? It's great for type O's, and Dr. D has put it in the tea for O's at the NAP store. White tea, if that's the other thing you're asking about, is untested, but the general consensus, until we hear otherwise, is that it's similiar enough to green tea in processing. A lot of us like it and drink it.

Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are.Let me not pass you by in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow.~Mary Jean Irion

Hi Jen,Don and Debra have really covered it. Your best support is to surround yourself with all the good food right inside your home and let it be available to you so at any time you are free to prepare the meal of your choice. Also, simply throw out of the house any and all avoids - out! Don't let any of it be even near you.

How are you going about bread etc? When I began almost 8 months ago I was in sheer panic!!! I had to keep near me something that I could BITE! What I was keeping was tremendous quantities of WASA rye crisps. Not for the taste of it, which is not so bad either (I had to give up SOMETHING), but for the texture. I used to come home from work, open a packet and having one crisp after the other, covered with raw sesame butter (avoid for B), until I finished the packet. My weight never went up, not by one gram, on the contrary, I started to lose weight immediately. After a few weeks the quantities started to subside by themselves, and I knew I was on the right track. After 4.5 months I quit grains altogether.

What I find greatest about the diet is that the body takes command. I don't do anything - only prepare the meals.

When I read Don's description of the full pantry, I really feel very secure and comfortable. I hope you take it easy and be on track again soon together with dh, and enjoy, enjoy!Yael

HI Jen I live in a O-B household and it is pretty easy :Breakfast: sometimes we share some eggs- other mornings I have yoghurt and fruit and my O has meat ( normally chicken sausages and veggies.Lunch - at weekends we share a soup or a meat/fish salad - during week I make something that is good for each bt. Dinner we always share B/O food- lots of food is either beneficial fo both BT or neutral for one BT and beneficial for the other bTWe eat a lot of veal, turkey, lamb and beef.My O has chicken only for lunch or breakfast .I eat my cheese at lunch or afternoons.

The only place were I really find it problematic is deserts/sweets. B´s can have cream, yoghurt etc- and it is more fun for them than the O`s.

Ok, first of all, Hello! My name is Jen & I used to be on the blogging boards a while back, but I have fallen so far off the wagon! I mean, like fell off, rolled down a steep mountain into a ravine off the wagon.

Huh, I'm surprised I didn't see you in the ravine. I was just there for a short whirlwind tour and am now perched rather precariously on a ledge overlooking the ravine, on my way back up to terra firma!

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I guess my first question is about tea. Is red tea acceptable instead of green tea? I really LOVE this red/white fusion tea.

If you mean "rooibos", i.e., "red bush" tea, then yes, it is beneficial, I think! I'll have to check Typebase4, but I think it is an O bennie. Note: be sure to read the ingredients on your "red/white fusion tea" to make sure there is no junk stuck in there. One never knows.

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Secondly, I was wondering what have you all done to get started the right way? I feel so all over the place sometimes when it comes to meal planning. Any suggestions for someone who is terrible in the kitchen? It sounds really pathetic, but it's true. However, my husband is a genius, he just needs me to steer him in the right direction. What is a typical meal plan for you?

1. Stock your kitchen up to the gills with beneficials. Jettison all the big avoids such as wheat.2. If possible, try to cook up a storm on a Sunday or one day that is convenient for you, then freeze a bunch of goodies in Gladware (I'm so all about Gladware *lol*) for quick and easy use later. Convenience, for me, is one key to high compliance. If it is convenient for me to choose compliance over avoids, I almost always will.

Welcome back, Jen!!!

"If you are on one of Dr. D's diets and it isn't joyful, you aren't doing it right."- moi

Hi Jen! I started the BTD in August of this year and want to second what MoDon says about keeping well-stocked with bennies. I don't like to cook...never have...BUT... I know it comes with the territory. I used to jump at the chance to go out to eat but now find myself saying "let's just stay home". It's hard to stay compliant when we go out so I'd rather stay home. Keep this in mind as you jump back on the wagon. I did cold turkey because that's how I am, but some people have gradually worked into it and are also successful. Read my testimonial, Celebrating Today, in the Testimonial Forum. It's all about individuality here! Welcome back and I look forward to reading about your progress.

I did cold turkey because that's how I am, but some people have gradually worked into it and are also successful.

Cold turkey is how I started. 100% compliance. Lasted 3 mths. Trying to get back there. It's a little easier now that the DH is taking this 'trip' with me. Whatever works, just do it. BTD is something that never leaves your mind. Even if you 'leave', you can never really leave. (see signature)

I am so glad to be back I am just plain tired of not feeling quite right physically.

That is why I call the BTD "self-regulating". You can go "off" the diet, but then at a certain point you realize: "Ooookay, this is all wrong. Don't like this. Don't like this at all. Want to get back to how I felt on the BTD. MUST get back to the BTD!"

In psychology we learned all about positive and negative reinforcement. When we eat right for our types, we are rewarded by feeling healthy and revitalized. When we get into that ever-lovin' ravine, we are "shocked" with negative reinforcement and outright "punishment" in the form of our physical body and our mental/emotional well-being feeling under the "W.E.A.T.H.E.R.":

Whoa:EatingAvoidsTotallyHarmsEverythingReally important!

"If you are on one of Dr. D's diets and it isn't joyful, you aren't doing it right."- moi

Oh my Gosh! You all are so awesome!!! Thank you thank you thank you so much for your responses ....I really truly appreciate your help as the way I see it, when you don't know what to do or the answer, ask for help. Y'all are totally my new best friends! I just got done with a morning run (part of my getting back on the wagon!) & I feel totally refreshed. I am going for a breakfast of 1 slice Ezekial bread, half a grapfruit & turkey bacon. Which I think turkey bacon may be bad because it tastes so salty!

I am a bit confused about the specifics of butter. I know unsalted is ok, but what about other types? Does that mean salted is really bad for us? I didn't see it on the website. I just bought Smart Balance. It's trans fat free & gluten free.

I am going for a breakfast of 1 slice Ezekial bread, half a grapfruit & turkey bacon. Which I think turkey bacon may be bad because it tastes so salty!

this breakfast is okay but I wouldn't have it every day. How much t/bacon did you have? your breakfast should be 'hearty' in a bennie protein. also a piece of toast every morning may wind up being too much grain. that's something you'll have to see how you do with. seems most O's aren't good w/ much grain. What are the ingred in that bacon? I know Applegate makes a good turkey bacon.

Quoted from jenmark97

I am a bit confused about the specifics of butter. I know unsalted is ok, but what about other types? Does that mean salted is really bad for us? I didn't see it on the website. I just bought Smart Balance. It's trans fat free & gluten free.

Salted butter prob has cr*ppy salt in it, thus prob why only unsalted is listed. I use the Himalayan Mined Salt or the Redmond Sea Salt. Looking for some grey sea salt as well.I don't know what others think of Smart Balance, but from me. Have you tried making ghee? Easy as pie...........well, easier. Just take a pound of unsalted butter, throw it in a baking dish (w/ kind of high sides), throw it in the oven for an hour at 350 and you're all done. You don't have to do anything but set the timer. Skim off the stuff on top (use it for flavoring if you wish or pitch it), let the ghee cool, strain. Throw away the stuff you caught in the strainer. (this is the dairy solids). you can store this right on the counter as long as you don't contaminate it. use only clean utensils in it. never dip ghee out, mix in the dish you're preparing and use the same utensil to scoop out more ghee. Use a clean utensil. This is very important to keep the ghee 'good' as long as possible. and ghee tastes great!!!!

I am with italybound on the breakfast Jen...you need less grains (especially since your secretor status is not known)...and especially in the mornings and after that wonderful run. Try to get the protein in as soon after the exercise as possible. Gives you such a boost for the day. Red meat especially. And...it helps keep the avoids away.

Ghee-YUMMILICIOUS. Easy to make as italybound posted. In the US you can buy it already made. (No luck here in Canada, so far) And...as my sister-in-law says...'it's like putting candy on your veggies.'

Keep the liquids flowing through and in the water you are drinking for the day have a pinch (for every litre, shouldn't be able to taste it) of grey sea salt in it.

Wild canned salmon on a salad or whatever is great for the avoid cravings. Also, l-tyrosine.

Debra

"Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves." C.G. Jung"

What are your favorite lean meats? I like the idea posted by Don about making pre-cooked meats to have on hand. Everyone's advice is so simple & effective, yet I really have such a hard time with anxiety about food. I HATE going to the grocery store. I mean, it's only food right? I need to read Mary's testimonial!

I am off to start my day. Thanks again for the advice on breakfast!

Oh & about grains-Yael! I am such a bread monkey that I am using Ezekial as an alternative until I lose that craving.